After a Disaster: Self-Care Tips for Dealing with Stress

Things to Remember When Trying to Understand Disaster Events

Profound sadness, grief, and anger are normal reactions to an abnormal event.

Acknowledging our feelings helps us recover.

Focusing on our strengths and abilities will help you to heal.

Accepting help from community programs and resources is healthy.

We each have different needs and different ways of coping.

It is common to want to strike back at people who have caused great pain. However, nothing good is accomplished by hateful language or actions.

Signs That Adults Need Stress Management Assistance

Difficulty communicating thoughts

Difficulty sleeping

Difficulty maintaining balance

Easily frustrated

Increased use of drugs/alcohol

Limited attention span

Poor work performance

Headaches/stomach problems

Tunnel vision/muffled hearing

Colds or flu-like symptoms

Disorientation or confusion

Difficulty concentrating

Reluctance to leave home

Depression, sadness

Feelings of hopelessness

Mood-swings

Crying easily

Overwhelming guilt and self-doubt

Fear of crowds, strangers, or being alone

Ways to Ease the Stress

Talk with someone about your feelings -- anger, sorrow, and other emotions -- even though it may be difficult.

Don't hold yourself responsible for the disastrous event or be frustrated because you feel that you cannot help directly in the rescue work.

Take steps to promote your own physical and emotional healing by staying active in your daily life patterns or by adjusting them. This healthy outlook will help yourself and your family. (i.e., healthy eating, rest, exercise, relaxation, meditation.)

Participate in memorials, rituals, and use of symbols as a way to express feelings.

Use existing supports groups of family, friends, and religious affiliations.

Establish a family emergency plan. Feeling that there is something that you can do, can be very comforting.

* When to Seek Help: If self help strategies are not helping or you find that you are using drugs/alcohol in order to cope, you are may wish to seek outside or professional assistance with your stress symptoms.